Hand Jive: A Step-by-Step Guide to Learn and Master This Social Dance

I. Introduction

Hand jive is a social dance that involves intricate hand and arm movements, often performed to upbeat music. It originated in African American communities in the United States during the 1950s and has since then gained worldwide recognition. Some even consider it a cultural icon of the rock and roll era.

Hand jive is not just a dance, but an activity that brings people together to bond, socialize and have fun. In this article, we will walk you through the basic steps to learn hand jive, address the common problems new performers face and provide tips and tricks to overcome those challenges.

II. The History of Hand Jive

Hand jive was popularized by African American teens who created it as a social dance during the rock and roll era of the 1950s. In the early 1960s, it was made famous by Johnny Otis’s song “Willie and the Hand Jive”. Since then, it has become a mainstay in popular dance culture.

Over the years, hand jive has evolved to incorporate different variations and styles. For instance, some performers add leg and body movements to enhance the choreography of the dance. Despite the variations, hand jive’s popularity remains intact even 70 years after its inception.

Hand jive experts encourage people to learn the dance, not just to take part in a social activity but also to appreciate its profound cultural significance.

III. Step-by-Step Breakdown of Hand Jive

The hand jive dance involves a combination of arm and hand movements done in a rhythmic sequence. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the hand jive dance for beginners:

1. Start by placing your palms together, with your left hand facing up and the right hand facing down. Move your hands back and forth, with your left hand sliding to touch your chin and return before your right hand touches your chest and returns.
2. Now, start crossing your hands. Bring your left hand over your right-hand face up as your right hand goes under the left-hand palm facing down. Now, reverse the position with your right hand over your left-hand face up and your left hand going under facing downwards.
3. Clap your hands twice, bringing your hands together, one on top of another, with your right hand on top, before separating your hands back to the original position.
4. Move your right hand in a counterclockwise circular motion with your hand open, and your fingers pointing outward, creating an imaginary circle with your hand. Take your left hand over and under your right hand and continue the motion, this time clockwise, with your left hand, again creating an imaginary circle.
5. Clap again and repeat from step one.

With practice, these moves can be combined to form a routine that can be performed to the beat of music.

For beginners, it might take a few sessions to master each move. Ensure to take time to practice each move on its own before putting them all together in a single routine.

IV. Common Misconceptions and How to Avoid Them

Like any dance, hand jive has some common mistakes that new performers might make. Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Mistake: Losing track of the rhythm and timing of each move
2. Solution: To overcome this problem, listen to the beat of the music and ensure that each of your movements is synchronized with the rhythm. At the beginning of each routine, take a few simple steps, claps, and snaps to help sync up with the beat of the music.
3. Mistake: Crossing your hands wrongly
4. Solution: Crossing of hands in hand jive can be a little tricky. To avoid this, make sure you maintain the correct hand positioning when crossing hands. Watch tutorials and follow the steps with precision until you are comfortable with each move.
5. Mistake: Losing hand coordination while incorporating other body movements
6. Solution: To avoid coordination confusion, ensure you are well-versed with each hand jive move before incorporating body movements. Once you can perform each move with precision, you can incorporate body movements into the routine with more ease.

V. Addressing Common Problems

It is common to face different challenges when learning how to hand jive. Here are some tips to help you address some common problems:

1. Overcoming coordination and rhythm issues

Coordination and rhythm challenges are some of the most common obstacles new performers face. To overcome this, practice regularly, listen to the beat of the music before each routine, and break the moves down to their most straightforward form to make mastering the rhythm easier.

2. Techniques for practice sessions to overcome common problems

Have a buddy who is well-trained to practice hand jive with you. Also, utilize resources such as hand jive tutorials, websites, and mobile apps to practice.

VI. Supplementing the Text with Fun Background Music

Hand jive dancing is synonymous with having fun. One way to enhance the dance experience is by accompanying your practice session with fun background music. Here are some of the songs that can make your practice session fun:

1. “Willie and the Hand Jive” by Johnny Otis
2. “Hand Jive,” by The Strangeloves.
3. “Rockin’ Robin,” by Bobby Day.
4. “Tequila,” by The Champs.
5. “The Twist,” by Chubby Checker.

VII. Conclusion

Hand jive is a fantastic dance that brings people together to have fun. With the above guidelines, you can learn how to hand jive like a pro in no time. Remember, consistent practice and maintaining a positive attitude are vital to achieving perfection. Join hand jive forums, social media groups, and other related online communities to learn more about hand jive and ways to perfect your skillset.